A woman in a dress took the stage.
“All items are guaranteed authentic, or ten
times your money back!” she announced.
That was unheard of at a private auction.
The room buzzed with disbelief.
The woman smiled.
“Mr. Chen is here to authenticate, so we’re
confident. If you don’t trust Mr. Chen, leave
now.”
The room went silent.
Everyone wanted in.
9:35
100
Items were graded B, A, and S, for investment
potential and apparently Grandpa was the judge.
At first, I didn’t bid.
A woman told me Grandpa said to bid freely.
I took a shot at a vase.
It started at $30,000, and I got it for $280,000.
That would buy a lot of cars!
I felt guilty.
Grandpa walked in and patted my head.
“Good job. That’s how it’s done!” he said.
It was easy to spend money, like it meant
nothing.
9:35
((
100
Mr. Henderson didn’t know we were up here.
He was trying to buy a grade S item, hoping to impress Mr. Hu.
But I kept bidding.
When I stopped, the price was way too high for
Mr. Henderson.
He didn’t have that much money.
Mr. Henderson glared at Ashley, and she pulled
out her phone.
She was begging those men for money.
Those men saw Ashley as a toy.
They wouldn’t help Mr. Henderson.
Mr. Henderson started yelling at Ashley, and I
bid again.
9:35
Г
I got the last grade S item.
I bid on everything he bid on, and he got
nothing.
When it was time to pay, Mr. Henderson was
still screaming at Ashley.
100
“Dress skimpier next time! You can’t even get a loan!” he said.
Mom, pregnant, stood nearby, staring off into
space.
“The VIPs are coming later. Do what you have
to do,” she said.
Ashley nodded.
Then Grandpa and I walked up, and Grandpa
pulled out a black card.
The woman smiled at Grandpa, the kind of
smile she didn’t give anyone else.
“You’re here, teacher,” she said.
Mr. Henderson looked at Mom, confused.
The woman rolled her eyes.
“You don’t know Mr. Chen? He’s a famous
antique collector, who’s given lots of artifacts
back to his country,” she said.
Then she had security escort us home.
Ashley stared, looking like she wanted to kill us.
Back home, I learned that the furniture in my
room was solid gold.
